Dr. Yolanda VanRiel: A Nurse Educator’s Journey of Purpose, Practice, and Pride

The call to care as a nurse often begins with a defining moment. For Dr. Yolanda VanRiel, department chair of nursing at North Carolina Central University, that moment arrived when her daughter was just 3 weeks old.

Seemingly healthy at birth, the infant began projectile vomiting without warning, making for a frightening development that quickly escalated into a medical emergency requiring surgery. When the hospital staff recommended sedating the baby, a nurse voiced concern about putting a child so young to sleep — a simple act of advocacy that ultimately led to a transfer to another hospital. There, Dr. VanRiel’s baby received the surgery and care she urgently needed.

For a mother, it was an experience of being heard, supported, and seen by a nurse — an experience that lit a fire. “I looked around the NICU at all the babies and I thought, I’m going to give back what these nurses gave to me,’” Dr. VanRiel recalls. “That’s when I decided that I wanted to be a nurse.”

A Calling Realized Through Education and Experience

Dr. VanRiel’s path to nursing — and nursing leadership — wasn’t linear. In high school, she planned to become a lawyer; however, life had other plans: marriage, children, jobs at Fruit of the Loom and Belk. As noted above, nursing entered the picture later in life, but it brought with it a sense of purpose that has shaped everything since.

After becoming a registered nurse (RN) and advancing in her career, Dr. VanRiel began to realize a growing passion not only for patient care but also for teaching. “My instructors at the community college were great,” she says, “and I think they picked up on my passion to teach.”

Early in her career, while working on a renal floor, one of her instructors, who wasn’t comfortable teaching the subject, invited her to guest lecture every year. “It was like, okay — I’m liking this; I’m going back to school,” Dr. VanRiel says.

She did just that. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Dr. VanRiel started teaching in a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program. However, she also wanted to teach students with an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), so she went on to earn her master’s degree. As she continued to progress through her education, her mentors encouraged her to keep going.

“They said, ‘You can’t just stop,’” Dr. VanRiel recalls.

Eventually, Dr. VanRiel earned her Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD), all while remaining deeply rooted in clinical practice. She never left the hospital and will be celebrating her 30th anniversary as a practicing clinician in July 2025.

Mentorship, Empathy, and the RN to BSN Experience at NCCU

Dr. VanRiel’s empathy for RN to BSN students runs deep because she’s been there herself. While pursuing her own RN to BSN degree, she juggled two jobs and raised a family, learning firsthand the grit it takes to persevere through life’s pressures.

That lived experience now shapes how she shows up for her students. She wants her students to know she’s been where they are, offering compassion, encouragement, and a clear message: “If I can do it, you can do it.”

Dr. VanRiel regularly advises students transitioning from ADN to BSN, as well as nursing students at all undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels, helping them navigate everything from course loads to career goals. Her approach is rooted in understanding each student’s unique path. While not everyone wants a PhD or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), she takes the time to help rising nurses consider the options available to them — and gives them a road map to move forward.

For Dr. VanRiel, mentorship is not about pushing students into one mold but about empowering them to define success on their own terms. No matter where they’re headed, she’s there to walk beside them.

Leading With Heart in a Changing Health Care Landscape

Dr. VanRiel’s career has unfolded at the intersection of education, clinical practice, and leadership, each informing the other in powerful ways. As she’s preparing to take on a new national leadership role as chair of the National League for Nursing (NLN), she’s committed to keeping her feet firmly on the ground through ongoing hospital work.

That dual perspective is one of her greatest strengths: She brings the realities of the bedside into the classroom and the voice of educators into national health care conversations. She advocates for forward-thinking approaches to education and care. From participating in the Stanford Medicine Health Futurist program to implementing nursing department-wide improvements in CPR quality, Dr. VanRiel remains engaged in both innovation and impact. Her leadership style is deeply relational, rooted in her story, shaped by service, and centered on students.

“My community means everything to me,” Dr. VanRiel says. “I haven’t ventured far away from my community. I still have boots on the ground here. I like being known as someone that people can come and talk to.”

Are You Interested in Learning From Dr. VanRiel?

The online RN to BSN Flight Path Program at NCCU is designed for current RNs who want to build on their education and experience and develop their skills in leadership, communication, and critical thinking. The program, which can be completed in as little as one year, is led by experienced and compassionate faculty and staff, including Dr. VanRiel, a nurse, educator, mentor, and lifelong advocate for students.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your nursing journey, learn more about the online RN to BSN program today.

Recommended Readings:

Types of Nurses and Their Salaries

Your Guide to a North Carolina Nursing License

Hospice Nurse Career Overview